t f'TI'jfi.r-'- V"'f f - - i -
VOL. XVI.
4)Qtn$vmUt$.
Small Fruits An Old Growers Method of
Cultivation and Marketing.
Grant's Pass, Or., May 1, 1881.
Editor Willamette Farmer :
I havo been interested in the com
munications on Strawberries from the
pen of A. F. Davidson Bnd think an ex
change of ideas by subscribers to any
agricultural paper, is the main thing to
make the paper valuable to all concern
ed. So, Horaco Greely like, I thought
it might not be out of place to tell what
I know about strawberry farming.
Having crown and marketed over two
thousand bushels of strawborries in the
last ten years and having been asked a
question about varieties, culture, kind
ol soil suitable to grow them, etc., for
every pound thus grown I desire to
answer some of them here for the benefit
of your many readors. Have grown
(hem on rich deep and rather moist
soil, also clay loam, and on light sandy
or .ashy soil mixed with fine gravel, the
latter I pronounce the best by far of the
three ; the less gravel and the more soil
the better. Such a soil is generally un
derlaid with a bed of gravel, thus giving
first-class drainage one of the main
requisites to the successful culture of
the strawberry. I never yet saw a var
iety that would succeed on wet soil, oven
wild ones shun such a location ; such
soil never bakes or gets lumpy and is
easily worked and kept free from weeds.
It is a warm quick soil and the flavor of
the berries is much better and sweeter
than those grown on heavier soil, while
my experience proves that tho bed will
remain in a good healthy bearing con
dition much longer than a heavy soil.
I have repeatedly produced on such a
soil in a single season 250 bushels of
first claesberries of the Wilson variety
-without manure. Tho main requisite
feeing deep and thorough culture that
is, stirring the soil often to a depth of
one foot and hoeing and raking between
vines. Such a soil treated as above only
turns up moisture at one-half an inch
below the surface, to the astonishment
of any drouth which I have seen in Or
egon in after a continuous residence of
18 years. I use a cultivator that merely
loosens the soil without ridging it up, as
a strawberry bed should bo kept level.
Having selected the ground to be
planted, I summer-fallow it one season
or plant to hoed crops unless it is al
ready in good condition and free from
foul stuff. If one starts in with ground
perfectly clear the battle is half won, as
it is an endless job to fight sorrel and
such coarse stuff after tho plants are set.
I prefer fall rather than spring planting
as the plants make a moro vigorous
growth tho first season. I remove all
blossom the first year as, it tends to
cheek the growth of the plants to re
quire them to bear oven a few berries
tho first summer.
After plowing the ground one foot
deep, immediately previous to planting
and harrowing well, o proceed to
smooth the surface with a l''n"k or 0,,y
suitable device, and mark oil" tho row
in the following mannor : Set' a stake at
each end of the first row, and one at tho
proper distance for tho second row at
tho end we are starting from. Then
walk across tho field directly on tho lino
of the first row, taking steps double the
length that you want your plants dis
tance apart, and set a plant at each track
and also ono half way between. This
shows tho plant dropper jtwt how mauy
and where to drop the plants, after wo
finish marking tho first row we set the
stake over and return on the second row
and so on until tho field is all marked. I
make the rows threo and one-half feet
apart and step three feet at each step,
making tho plants stand eighteen inches
ppart in the row. Supposing one to
Taiso their own plants, tho next thing
in order is the digging and trimming of
the plants, which we do by having two
SALEM,
or moro stout men to go abend with
spado or shovel and loosen up tho plants
and shako out all the dirt and throw
thorn in convenient iiles for tho trim
mors, which with us consisted of a doz
en or twenty boys from ten to fifteen
years old, who cut off nil but Ono or two
of the heart or centre leaves and all old
leaves and runners and shortened tho
roots to four inches, placing them in
piles with tho roots kept well straightened
out. Such plants being much easier set
than those which havo not been trim
med and aro thrown together in a jum
bled up mass with roots in every direc
tion. Then wo havo a good active boy
drop the plants along tho lino marked
off and as many men as necessary to set
th3in, using dibblos for setting which
are made from a piece of steel inch
thick by 5 inches wide at top and
8 inches wide at bottom, with sido and
bottom edges drawn down thin having a
handle welded on ono corner at the top
the shape of an ordinary walking cano
handle. By thrusting this into tho
ground and giving it a few motions to
the right and left then drawing it out
carefully so no dry dirt shall fall in tho
opening. Tho plant is then set by
placing the plant in tho opening with
the roots kept spread out liko a fan, and
thrusting the dibble into the soil at an
angle of about 30 degrees with the
bottom nearest tho plant, and with a
quick motion of tho hand tho dirt is
firmly pressed against the plant and
then by filling that last opening by
scraping full, the w ork is done. Wo had
13,000 Wilson plants dug, trimmed and
packed at our Turner farm and sent to
us here, all of which arrived safely after
a trip of 250 miles. They were planted
as above stated about tho middle of
March, which aro now making tho best
growth of any I havo yet planted, as it
is on very sandy loam soil on tho north
bank of th'o Eoguo river, treated as
above. Wo havo not lost over one plant
in a thousand. After setting we hoc
and rake after and run a cultivator that
merely loosens up the soil without ridg
ing it up through between the rows and
loosen the soil to a depth of ono foot,
about once a week until August 15th,
when they aro laid by for tho season.
If any weeds make their appearance
after August 15th, I pull them by hand
or shave them off from tho surface with
a hoo boing careful not to go deeper than
an inch, as the fall is the timo the plants
throw out a good supply of small hair
like roots completely filling the soil with
them. Feeders we call thorn, to supply
tho following year's crop with nourish
ment. They should not bo disturbed by
either hoo or cultivator until after they
are through bearing tho following sum
mer, as by bo doing tho plant is weaken
ed and very likely, as Mr. Davidson has
said in regard to the Wilson, tho second
and third pickings would bo small
spodv. tl linns. I have btt succor in
crowincr them in sinu'o plants or lul
with nil runners kept off. When I
can planting strawberries ono wouldsay
iln not cultivate in the spnne.lnd I
would nk why. The uiuuer gierally
was that they did not knowbut that
thej- read or heard so gome-where, en wo
naid no attention to it until we found
out better by expenem
As to varieties I cannot say much now
as this article is already long. I havo
tried some twentv-fivo varieties of tho
much praised kinds, and for profit I havo
jet to find tho variety that will equal
the old Wilson. But soil and culture
have much to do witli the value of some
varieties. I will at some future timo
give my mode of gathoring, packing
and marketing. If I havo answered
any of the many questions asked mo in
tho past years by different parties I shall
feel repaid, as that should bo a part of
our business in this life to learn and bo
learned. B. D. Samiioiid.
Xewsr letter from California.
Sax Jose, Cal., April 20, 1831.
Kditor Willamette Farmer:
Having traveled in the northern and
OREGON, FRIDAY,
central portion of California during tho
past month I have had tho pleasure of
seeing somo very pretty oountry and
sconory. Tho present prospects are
flattering for an abundant harvest so far
as I enn sec, and leports are that it is
universally so throughout tho State.
The grain crop is to bo seen in all stages
from seeding to heading. Tho greatest
difficulty apprehended is too rank a
growth of straw, owing to thero having
beon an unusual amount of rainfall.
Thero have been more rainy days tho
past month than fair ones. Tho pros
pects for fruit is simply enormous, and
fruit culture hero hiw reached an im
mense magnitude. Seemingly the in
dustry would become overdone, but the
planting of new orchards is in progress
all over the Stato. The estimate is that
this seasons planting will moro than
equal one-third of all former orchards
and vinyards. The apple, plum, prune
and pear aro just shedding their bloom,
whilst the almond, appricot, and poach
aro of considerable sizo;Uhe orange is
to bo seen from the bloom to the ripened
fruit. It is claimed by many that tho
fruit industry will soon be overdone,
but judging by the prices asked for
fruit green and dried it yet holds a
margin. Apples, green, $1.25 to $2.50
per boxj oranges, $3.50 to $4.25 per box ;
retail for fifty cents a dozen for very
choice. Good fruit lands in localities
accessible to market aro selling for from
$100 to $800 per acre. Yet in many
choice localities more distant from mar
ket and railroad communication there is
choice fruit lands to ber-diad at prices
varying from 10 to $50. There is a
beautiful section of country adapt'
ed to vineyarding by irrigation to
be found at a Bmall place ten miles
south of Stockton, on tho railroad, where
land can bo bought for from $30 to $15
por acre. I visited some beautiful young
orchards and vineyards that were flour
ishing nicely. Tho is an increasing im
migration of a moro wealthy class to
this country, having been attracted by
the fruit industry and congenial climate.
But lot me say to my Oregon friends do
not neglect to avail yourselves of a
golden opportunity of engaging in the
fruit industry of such varieties as nie
adapted to soil and climnte, such as
Bartlet and Wintor Nellis pear, apples,
plums, prunes, cherries, blackberries,
raspberries, currants, etc., can bo pro
duced in abundance and of as fine a
quality for tho market in tho form of
green or dried fruit as any spot on earth
and not depend upon tho one routino of
wheat culture, and to provide to get an
equal share of tho markets of the north
eastern States and Territories, as that is
a topic hore, to raise the above varieties
for the markets of those sections, on the
lint of tho railroads arc built and open
tlutm up. 31. V. lis
An Orozoalan la Calllornla.
Herewith we append an interestin,
letter received from our old friend mid
former resilient, Mr. Mr. M. V. Ensley.
It fully explains itsolf.
San- Jose. Onl., April 12, 1881.
EJi i r Willamette Furmtr :
Having been associated with upiacul
turo and knowing tho advantages of, and
results, obtainod in the production of
honey in Oregon, and having passed
through tho greater portion of tho north
ern and central part of the Stato of Cali
fornia, and having investigated tho re
sults of this portion of tho Stato by in
terviewing apiaculturo in different local
ities, I find Oregon is, and can be, made
far moro profitable in this industry than
is possible in the central and northern
portion of California. I find tho princi
pal portion of all bees kept hero are con
fined to the mountain ranges. It is
claimed that about one year in throe is
a failure; having to feed tho entire stock
iu most localities, while in isomo of the
canyons where thero is natural irrigation
they may be tcK-sustainlng and in some
instance, furnish a small amount of sur
plus, but such localities aro tcarce
MAY 9, 1884.
Apiaculturo has become un industry in
this country ; about one in four yoars a
bountiful season, then the amount of
honey obtained depends altogether upon
the hives used and locality in which
they aro kept, and I am informed that in
many sections of the country where
honey could bo gathered most plentiful
ly, the species of vegetation of which tho
honey is gathered is such as to produce
an inferior article not suitable for tho ta
ble or market, and I also find that there
is a large portion of tho product obtained
in many parts of the southern counties,
especially in the af terparts of tho sea
son, that is not a merchantable article.
Taking the results obtained, together
with the prices obtained, the business of
honey producing is not so remunerative
as is claimed. Tb.3 price in San Fran
cisco, and quality, are proportionably as
follows : Extra white comb from 15 to
18 cents (of the total crop of last year it
will aggregate 17 J per cent. J medium to
best, 21-J per cent. ; price 10 to 12J cents
per pound ; dark and inferior mixed 8
cents per pound ; choice 28 per cent.,
price, 5 to 7 cents per pound, accoiding
to quality, and I find the principal hives
used aro tho Langstroth and Simplicity,
and usfd principally by tiering up from
three to four high, as they find the
larger the hh o the better tho results ob
tained, i
In Oregon thero is scarce a season
when it becomes necessary to feed the
bees, tho production is moro uniform
taking one season with another, and bet
ter range for bee ranching in the moun
tains along the Cascade and Coast
ranges of Oregon than is to be found in
California, when taking into considera
tion the extent of good honey producing
territory, quality and quantity obtained,
and tho Northwest, including an East-
oni market along tho lino of tho North
ern Pacific bee keeping in Oregon is
much moro extensive and remunerative
than in California. M. V. E.
"- Weathsr Beport for April!18M.
x Eola, May 1, 1881.
Editor Willamette Farmer:
During April, 1884, thero vtoro 14
days during which rain fell, and an
aggregate of 3.09 inchos of water.
Tho mean temperature for tho month
was 51.51 deg.
Highest daily mean temperature foi
tho month, C5 deg. on tho 7th.
Lowest daily mean temperature for tho
month, 42 deg. on tho 13th.
Mean temperature for the month at
2 o'clock i. m., 58.5G deg.
Highest tcmpeiature for the month, 75
deg. at 2 r. M. on the 4th and 14th.
Lowest temperature for tho month, 25
deg. at 7 A. m. on tho 8th.
Frosts occurred on the 4, 14, 15, 18
and 27th.
Tho prevailing winds for tho month
wore from tho north during 10 days,
southwest 0 days, south 11 days.
During April. 1883, there wcro 19
rainy days and C.51 inches of water, 4
clear, and 7 cloudy day?.
Mean temperature for the month,
47.10 dog.
Highest daily mean temperature for
the month, 56 deg,, on tho 25th.
Lowest daily mean temperature for
tho month, (0 deg. on the 13th.
T. I'KARD.
Woman Suffrage U Popular.
I,ABiMi,Or,May3, 1884.
Editor WilWmetto Farmer i
In ycterdays paper I see a short edi
torial iu regard to the woman suffrago
question that surprised mo. You say
that not more thn one in throe will
vote for tho atnondment. Now I bao
talked with a great many in this p.irt of
the county about it, and only one man
in about fifty was against it and ho wbh
not in favor of it liccausc ho thought
the "wimln was too smart mw." It h
hardly worth whilo to advance argu
ment, on the sido of the suffrage for
those that oppewo it aro seldom capable of
NO. 13
understanding ovea tho simplest propo
sition. But thero is ono that it seems
tho feeblest intellect can grasp, and that
is there should be no taxation without
representation. F. J. Beatty.
KIVER AND HARBOR IMPR0VEMKHTS.
Of course our Congresman are exercis
ing all their inliuenco and policy to
secure appropriations for improving the
river and harbors of Oregon and Wash
ington, but they cannot force tho great
majority to viow matters in a proper
light. At a timo when the treasury is
so full and tho rovnuo so great it would
seem that improvements of such im
portance as tho rivors and harbors of
this region require could command tho
attention of Congress and secure suf
ficient appropriations to carry them out.
Hore is what the last dispatches say on
this subject :
It was ogrocd to appropriate as follows :
S40.000 for continuing improvement at
Yaquina bay; tho engineer's estimate
was $140,000. For constructing tho
Cascades canal, for which tho engineer's
estimate was $500,000, tho committo has
agreed on an appropritationof $100,000.
Tho upper Willamette river, above
Portland, was allowed $5000, and tho
Columbia, bolow Portland $100,000; in
the former tho estimate was $31,000, and
in tho latter $242,000. For tho upper
Columbia and Snake rivers, for which
tho engineers estimated $5G,000, tho
committee has agreed to appropriate
$5000. Recommendation for tho Co
quillo river. Coos bay and for improv
ing tho mouth of tho Columbia were
crjcctcd. It was proposed to construct a
jetty nt tho mouth of tho Columbia, from
tho south capo of tho entrance to tho
spit, and there attach it. There were
somo differences of opinion among the
engineers as to tho advisability of con
structing this breakwater, which would
havo cost $500,000, and the disagreement
resulted in a minority report by Mendcll.
Steward, Craighill, Comstock and Powell
agreed that tho improvement would bo
successful, but Mendcll rcportod that
owing to tho peculiar action of tho tides
on that part of tho coast thoro were
somo doubts whothor the plan proposed
would succeed. Tho commitco con
cluded that until tho ongincors reached
some settled opinion on tho subject it
would bo unwise to wnko an appropria
tion. .
Tho Coos bay estimate was rojoctod on
tho grounds that $97,000 had been
already oxpended on a half tido jetty,
started near Fossil point, at tho mouth
of tho bay, and which is'to extend on a
curved lino toward Coos.
Tho estimate for the Coquillowas also
to construct a jetty and cut a channol
through tho south entrance, permanently
clo'ing tho present channel.
Tho committco took tho ground that
as theso improvements would cost a great
deal of money, it was hotter to wait till the
present appropriations are exhausted.
The total amount appropriated will be
tween $12,000,000 and $13,000,000.
Goeur d'Alene Mines.
Isaac D. Huntoon, a Portland morchant,
writes as follows from the mines :
I have been in nearly all the stampedes
from Arizona to Frnzer river, and havo
met several of my old friends on Pritchard
creek that tell mo this is the best mining
camp they have ever seen. Somo of
theso old timer are direct descendants
of tho Wellington. You couldn't hire
them to tell a lie, and whon they ensure
mo they havo seen $40 totl.e pan washed
out and over five pound cleaned up
from a throo days' run on somo of tho
claims, ami when I bpo tho rich spc cimens
of quartz they find he n, I tell you I feel
natisflcd that I am in tho richest mineral
belt In America. This is a great field for
prospt-ctcr'. All through thenu mountains,
from tho Yankee fork to tho British
Columbia line, thero are thousands of
qnartz leads, nm I venture to predict
that within eighteen months there will
bo ono thosand ttumps crushing ore
Ijetweeu Miasouira and Cocur d'Alene
lake.
Notice.
There will bo a meeting of the stock
holders of tho Sulcm Co-operative Asso
ciation of Patrons of Husbandry No. 17,
on Saturday, tno lutn cmy oi ju 110,1001,
at 1 o'clock v. m. of said day, to elect di
rectors aud org.uiizo said curporationt
and do any othor business that may
proit'rlv come before said stockholder.
It. P. Boise,
Dax'l Claiik,
O. O. Gu:n.v,
Corporator.
i
l
1
'jra. w t.
,.'Jni.
,.. wi;
x . $k
.
$$&